He was a man that lived in continual expectation of trouble, never reaching for it, yet always and forever prepared.”
–Louis L’Amour (Hondo)
“The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”
–Nahum 1:7 (NKJV)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Don’t get nonchalant on me, don’t you dare doze as your eternal life may depend upon these studies. In view of the times, the war with Russia/Ukraine, the pestilence, inflation, fear and terror besetting people you would think that the churches would be filling up. However, they are not. People are going along, tip-toeing through the tulips it seems even in the midst of the fear. Maybe they are partying more to escape and ignoring the call of God to wake up.
In our last study we started looking at prayer. Oh, how much we need to pray in this hour! To be effective in prayer and to have any real confidence we must know that we ourselves are accepted by God.
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
–John 9:31
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked Him.”
–1 John 5:14-15(NASB)
Notice the difference. God is not ready to do what sinners ask of Him–His ears are not open to them. Only when they repent and accept Jesus as Savior do His ears open to their prayers. However, when one becomes a child of God, we have confidence that He hears us when we pray…according to His will. That is important. We cannot expect to pray contrary to God’s Word and expect for it to happen. We must observe the conditions laid down in Scripture and our motive in prayer must be correct and true. James says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (4:3, KJV)
We must guard that our prayers are God-honoring and that what we are asking is as well. What can be the problems that James is speaking of?
1) prayers can be utterly selfish
2) our self-esteem can get in the way
3) pride
4) we sermonize our agenda and tell God what to do
5) we should examine our motive for any particular petition
Then…
“let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:5-8)
To have our prayers accepted we must abide in Christ and be obedient, and we must ask in the name of Christ.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” –John 15:7
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” –1 John 3:22
We must pray with assurance. It is not a matter of trying to persuade ourselves–it is not psychology. We must rely upon God, trust in Him, and let the Spirit help us pray. We do not try to determine God’s answer to prayer by persuading ourselves that we have already got it. No, we depend upon God for the answer.
So in these times do not falter nor faint. Look to God, realize that you are His child and He is willing, ready, and able to answer you.
————————————-
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Don’t get nonchalant on me, don’t you dare doze as your eternal life may depend upon these studies. In view of the times, the war with Russia/Ukraine, the pestilence, inflation, fear and terror besetting people you would think that the churches would be filling up. However, they are not. People are going along, tip-toeing through the tulips it seems even in the midst of the fear. Maybe they are partying more to escape and ignoring the call of God to wake up.
In our last study we started looking at prayer. Oh, how much we need to pray in this hour! To be effective in prayer and to have any real confidence we must know that we ourselves are accepted by God.
“Now we know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
–John 9:31
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked Him.”
–1 John 5:14-15(NASB)
Notice the difference. God is not ready to do what sinners ask of Him–His ears are not open to them. Only when they repent and accept Jesus as Savior do His ears open to their prayers. However, when one becomes a child of God, we have confidence that He hears us when we pray…according to His will. That is important. We cannot expect to pray contrary to God’s Word and expect for it to happen. We must observe the conditions laid down in Scripture and our motive in prayer must be correct and true. James says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (4:3, KJV)
We must guard that our prayers are God-honoring and that what we are asking is as well. What can be the problems that James is speaking of?
1) prayers can be utterly selfish
2) our self-esteem can get in the way
3) pride
4) we sermonize our agenda and tell God what to do
5) we should examine our motive for any particular petition
Then…
“let him ask in faith, nothing wavering” (James 1:5-8)
To have our prayers accepted we must abide in Christ and be obedient, and we must ask in the name of Christ.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” –John 15:7
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” –1 John 3:22
We must pray with assurance. It is not a matter of trying to persuade ourselves–it is not psychology. We must rely upon God, trust in Him, and let the Spirit help us pray. We do not try to determine God’s answer to prayer by persuading ourselves that we have already got it. No, we depend upon God for the answer.
So in these times do not falter nor faint. Look to God, realize that you are His child and He is willing, ready, and able to answer you.